Outer Worlds 2 DLC release date: December 2
The Outer Worlds 2 DLC release date is December 2. Obsidian Entertainment announced the first story expansion, Side Effects Guaranteed, in a PlayStation Blog post on November 10, 2026. It is the first half of a two-part story, and Obsidian says part two follows in spring 2027.
The post, written by Obsidian's director of communications Mikey Dowling, opens with a simple line: "The time has come to expand on the experience for The Outer Worlds 2." Below is everything the post confirms, what it leaves out, and what changes for players who do not buy the DLC at all.
What Side Effects Guaranteed adds
The expansion is built around a new story and a new region, Elysium Valley, which comes with its own quests and new facilities. Obsidian lists five new weapons, among them the Immobilizer, the 1/6 Resolver, a weapon that deals extra damage to creatures, a Tossball Stick and a new plasma weapon. There are also new perks and new flaws to build around.
The level cap rises to 36. For players who have finished the main game, that is the headline progression change, because it opens room for new perk picks. A Sub Rosa radio station with 20 new songs rounds out the content list.
“The time has come to expand on the experience for The Outer Worlds 2”
Start in the DLC at level 27
For anyone who wants to skip the main campaign, Obsidian adds a new-game option that starts a pre-made level 27 character directly in the DLC. That is a notable convenience for returning players who have uninstalled the game or want a clean character, since it avoids replaying the base story to reach the expansion's content.
The post also mentions a custom game option to adjust the skill points gained per level. Obsidian does not explain the range of that setting in the post, so we are not describing numbers for it.
The respec update is for everyone
The most widely useful item may be the one that is not paywalled. A respec feature is delivered in an update that launches alongside the DLC for all players, according to the post. That means players who own only the base game get the ability to rebuild their character on December 2 even if they never buy Side Effects Guaranteed.
Respec options are a long-requested feature in the genre, but we have not seen Obsidian publish the rules, such as cost or limits, and the post does not state them. Treat those details as unknown until patch notes arrive.
Who gets it and how it is sold
According to the post, Side Effects Guaranteed is available through the Premium Edition or the Premium Edition Upgrade of The Outer Worlds 2. The post does not state a standalone price, and it does not list the platforms in the text we read. The blog is PlayStation's, which suggests PS5 is covered, but we are not asserting platform availability beyond what the post says.
If you already own the Premium Edition, the DLC is part of what you paid for. If you own the standard game, the Premium Edition Upgrade is the route the post points to. Check your storefront for the exact price in your region before December 2.
Part two arrives in spring 2027
Because Side Effects Guaranteed is only the first of two parts, the story is incomplete on December 2. Obsidian says the second part is due in spring 2027, with no more specific date given in the post. That gap, roughly three to five months, is our reading of a spring window, not an Obsidian figure.
The practical advice is simple. If you care mostly about gameplay content, the level cap, weapons and Elysium Valley are all available on day one. If you care about a finished narrative, you may prefer to wait for part two before starting.
What we could not confirm
The post does not give a price, a platform list, a download size or a playtime estimate for Side Effects Guaranteed. It also does not explain how the level 27 start interacts with achievements or trophies. We have left all of that out.
We will update this article with a dated note if Obsidian publishes patch notes or a store listing that fills those gaps before launch.
Frequently asked
What is the Outer Worlds 2 DLC release date?
The first Outer Worlds 2 story DLC, Side Effects Guaranteed, releases December 2, according to an Obsidian Entertainment post on the PlayStation Blog dated November 10, 2026. It is the first of a two-part story expansion, and Obsidian says part two follows in spring 2027, with no exact date for that second release yet.
What is the first Outer Worlds 2 DLC called?
It is called Side Effects Guaranteed. Obsidian describes it as the first of a two-part story expansion for The Outer Worlds 2. It adds a new story, a region called Elysium Valley with unique quests and new facilities, five new weapons, new perks and flaws, a level cap of 36, and a Sub Rosa radio station with 20 new songs.
Does the Outer Worlds 2 DLC come with the Premium Edition?
Yes, per Obsidian's post, Side Effects Guaranteed is available through the Premium Edition or the Premium Edition Upgrade of The Outer Worlds 2. The post does not state a standalone price for the DLC, so check your platform's store listing for the exact cost in your region before the December 2 launch.
What is the new level cap in Outer Worlds 2 with the DLC?
The level cap increases to 36 with Side Effects Guaranteed. The expansion also adds new perks and flaws, so higher levels come with more build choices. There is also a new-game option that starts a pre-made level 27 character directly in the DLC for players who do not want to replay the main campaign first.
Is the Outer Worlds 2 respec free for everyone?
According to Obsidian's post, a respec feature is delivered in an update that launches alongside the DLC for all players. That suggests you do not need to own Side Effects Guaranteed to use it. The post does not describe the cost or limits of respeccing, so details will have to wait for patch notes.
When does part two of the Outer Worlds 2 story DLC come out?
Obsidian says the second part of the two-part story expansion is due in spring 2027. The company has not given a specific date or a name for part two in the post we read. Players who want a complete story may prefer to wait until both parts are available before starting.